California has several new employment laws on the books, at least one of which may affect employers issuing employment agreements now deemed “against public policy.” Assembly Bill 465, effective January 1, 2017, adds a new section to the Labor Code that prohibits employers from compelling employees to resolve employment disputes outside of California. Such provisions…
California business owners: Have you taken a look through your employee handbook in a while? Thanks, in part, to the numerous recent updates to state and federal employment law, it is probably time. The new year is an ideal time to update employment policies. Maintaining current employee handbooks ensures that employees are aware of their…
At the present time, an estimated 7 million employees in California are not offered tax-qualified retirement plans through their employers. Starting Jan. 1, 2017, this is going to change. Under the California Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program (Senate Bill 1234), employers who do not currently offer a tax-qualified retirement plan to employees will be required…
Perhaps in response to some of the questions posed by the media following the election of Donald Trump, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (“EEOC”) recently released guidance on national origin discrimination under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (Title VII). As many employers are aware, Title VII applies to any individual employed…
As many California employers know all too well, wage and hour class actions are on the rise. A quick Google search of any combination of the words “California”, “wage and hour” and “class actions” results in thousands of results, a number of them actual cases involving disgruntled employees seeking millions of dollars from their employers.…
In a win for employers throughout California and across the country, a recent court decision shows that an “honest belief” continues to be an effective defense for employers responding to employment discrimination claims. In an employment law context, the “honest belief” rule focuses on what a decision-maker honestly believed the facts to be and whether…
A trade secret is a formula, practice, process, design, instrument, pattern, commercial method, or compilation of information that is not generally known or reasonably ascertainable by others, and by which a business can obtain an economic advantage over competitors. Many businesses survive on their ability to keep their trade secrets, well, secret. For this reason,…
It’s political season and everyone seems to have something to say, including (not surprisingly) the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). According to the EEOC, wearing a hat that states “Don’t Tread on Me” to work could potentially be a form of racial harassment. The phrase comes from the Gadsden flag, which is a historical American…
Many business owners feel as though operating within the City of Los Angeles is not an easy task and, unfortunately, the City has recently made it even more challenging. As of July 1, 2016, employers covered by both the California Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act of 2014 (more on that here) and the City Ordinances…
Employers in California must be increasingly cognizant of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) as it applies to employees and prospective employees. Title 1 of the Act specifically prohibits employers with 15 or more employees from discriminating against workers who have a disability. An individual with a disability is a person who: · Has a…